Car coupler



E. P. KINNE Oct. 31, 1944.

CAR COUPLER Filed Jan. 26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR.

cimrzd PIA (Jams, W

Oct, 31, 1944. E. P. KINNE 2,361,859

cm COUPLER I Filed Jan. 26, 194.2

5 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

Famnd Pfflkzrze', BY

Oct. 31, 1944 KlNNE 2,351,850

CAR COUPLER Filed Jan. 26, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR. Edmund Plan/2e,

QM. I

E. P. KINNE CAR COUPLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 26, 1942 INVENTOR.

BY Iczmrzd P12272726,

Patented Oct. 31, 1944 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR COUPLER 1 Edmund P. Kinne, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 428,179

30 Claims.

My invention relates to railway car couplers of the so-called automatic knuckle type and, particularly, to a relatively recent design designated tight lock, a form ofwhich has been made a present standard by the Association of American Railroads. i

In the present A. A. R. standard tight lock coupler, the contour surfaces of the knuckles and coupler heads are machined in order to get a very close mating with a minimum of clearance or free slack therebetween. In couplers of this type, there is no provision for vertical and horizontal angling of one coupler relative to another, and mated couplers are secured in locked position by wedge-type locks designed to cooperate with wedge faces on the knuckles and, by a gravity action, operate to compensate for wear or adjustments occurring due to the seating of the surfaces of the various parts against each other, said wedge feature being designed to maintain all parts in a tight condition and prevent play between the mated or locked couplers. It will readily be understood that the production or manufacture of a coupler of the tight lock type above referred to will necessitate accurate production of parts and the machined surfaces must be close fitting to obtain the tight condition and,

at the same time, must admit of interchangeability of all parts which is a prime requisite of any coupler utilized on American railways.

Under service conditions, it hasbeen found that because of the wedge design of the locks and their wedge engagement with the l abutting knuckle surfaces, the locks have a tendency to creep upward under the pulling force exerted on the couplers and, as a result, to cause accidental uncoupling unless the upward creeping movement is limited or stopped by a lock-to-the-lock, some.- times known as an anticreep device. In other words, the'safety of such a coupler utilizing a wedge-type lock must depend upon the efiicient functioning of the anticreep device associated therewith.

Another difliculty with such wedge-type locks as have been utilized and are at present being utilized in the standard tight lock coupler arises from the fact that the wedge surfaces on the lock and the adjacent knuckle sometimes become so tightly wedged against each other, with the lock between the knuckle and the vertical looking wall of the coupler head, thatit becomes difficult and sometimes impossible to manually onerate the lock to unlock the coupler. This condition may also arise when it is desired to open the knuckle of a coupler in order to lock it with a mating coupler if, for any reason, the knuckle of the coupler has beenclosed to locked position. Moreover, because of the fact that the couplers are designed substantially to eliminate clearance between mated couplers, perfect alignment both horizontally and vertically is required between adjacent couplers to be coupled.

A further objection sometimes'arises in the use of such tight lock couplers as above referred to inthat they are utilized almost exclusively in passenger service where a minimum of noise is desirable, especially on sleeping cars; and the solid metal to metal contact between the tight lock couplers is disadvantageous from this standpoint.

In order to overcome certain of the above-mentioned objectionable features, I have designed a novel form of tight lock coupler, the details of which are hereinafter more clearly set forth.

The general object of my invention is to devise an automatic knuckle type coupler of tight lock design wherein some degree of play will be afforded between locked couplers while, at the same time, all of said play will be under resilient control effective to reduce said play to. a mini- "mum while also facilitating ease of manufacture and convenient and facile operation in service.

A different object of my invention is to eliminate the danger of accidental uncoupling in a coupler of tight lock design-by utilizing therein a lock with a vertical locking face for engagement with a vertical locking face on the knuckle, in which design pulling stresses will tend to hold the lock in normal locked position, and the anticreep mechanism need function only to guard against such abnormal conditions as bouncing action which may occasionally occur.

Another object of my invention is to devise a tight lock coupler wherein sufiicient manufacturing tolerances are permitted to facilitate interchange therebetween and likewise to reduce the cost thereof while, at the same time, affording relative ease of coupling and uncoupling in a coupler wherein all slack will be under resilient control.

My novel form of tight lock coupler contemplates a design wherein the knuckle is permitted to close in slightly from its normal pulling position, thus affording clearance or lead at the back of the knuckle tail and insuring positive dropping of the lock.

My novel form of tight lock coupler also contemplates a design suitable for interlocking or interchange with the present standard tight lock coupler as well as the present standard E coupler head as to restrain rotative action of the. knuckles of locked couplers, and certain other. of said resilient means may be so mountedbinw the coupler heads as to offer a resilient initial contact between couplers in the act-'ofbeingcoupled whether from angular positions orin line so that the coupling operation may be cushioned and-quieted.

Still another object of my invention is. to .devise an automatic coupler of the type above referred to upon. such'buffingaction :but .also .to. lessen.- the blows of the knuckle tail.

My novel automatic coupling arrangement as herein; described is readily applicable .not only to present standard. tightalock .designs but. .also. to

structure of my novel form of lock, Figure being a side elevation thereof, Figure 11 a front wherein: resilient means .willibeafforcled'. the rbufi Y. ing suriacesvon the couplerhead. against. which. the knuckle. tail; normally strikes in. the buffin action, not-onlyto .reduce -=thei-n0ise;-..attendant.1

possiblity of fatigue\failuresethrough the buffing: wall sometimes causedwbyrepeated-hammering.

present standard typefEfZ designs,:-the free slack of which.- may be eliminated. .by v.utilizationof .the

features herein described.

In the-drawings,.

Figural is a top plan .view oftwocoupler. heads... embodying my invention thee couplers. being. shown in: coupled..relation. witlneach .other .and

theshanks of. -the.couplers. .bingcut away as not pertinent tomykinventionl Figure 2 is asidelelevatio'n of. the mated .Icouplers showninFig'urel, the..vie'w,being taken from th r'rghtasseeninFig'ure 1.

Figure 3 is.a.sectional view through the mated couplersshownin Figures 1 and v2,the section beirig taken substantiallyin the horizontal plane indicated by the line.;3+3 10f Figure 2;'with" the couplers shown under: pulling conditions, the.

knuckle of one. coupler being shown in elevation and the other partially sectionedj Figure 4; is 'a fragmentary" sectional through one couplenthe section'being'takenin the transverse vertical planes substantially as indicated bythe line'll'4 of- Figure S'and'a portion of the guard arm'loeing shown as a half front elevation:

Figure 5 is a fragmentary-sectional view'takem through the knuckle of -one of 'the 'couplers, the section beingtaken substantially in the lon gitudinal vertical plane indi'c'ated by'the'li'n'e 5- 5of Figured? Figure .6 is a further fragmentary sectional view takenlthrough the-matedficouplers asz'shown in Figure "3; the section being takemsubstantially inz the longitudinal vertical plane indicated by-the.

View

elevation, Figure 12 a side elevation taken from the side opposite that of Figure 10, Figure 13 arear elevation, Figure 14 a top plan, Figure 16 a bottom plan, and Figure 15 a sectional view taken substantially in the transverse horizontal plane indicated by the line |5-l5 of Figure 11.

Figures 1'7 and 18 show my novel formof coupler coupled with a tight lock coupler of the present standard, the views in both cases being fragmentary and comparable to that of Figure 3 and taken in the horizontal planes similar thereto, the view of Figure 17 showing the couplers unde pulling conditions and that of Figure 18 showing them under bumng conditions.

FigurelQ shows the contour of my novel form oftight-lockgcoupler"superposed upon the con tour of the present standard tight lock coupler. Describing in detail my novel form of coupler structure and referringfirst to the showingthereofas illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, it will be noted thateach. coupler. comprisestheiusual couplerhead generally designated 2 integrally formed with the shank 4, a fragmentary .portion only of which is shown. The coupler headcomprises the usual. guardarm :portion Bianct the knuckle 8..which. may be pivoted. at. lefor automatic action in. well-known. manner.

I have designated this. portion a knuckle tail pocket 12, said .pocket'serving to houseresilient means more particularly described. hereafter.

,Each coupler. headisformed with the usual de pending trunnion.lug,.l l aifordingpivotal con.-.

nection as. at It with. the.,rotor.l8, .the opposite end of which may have pivotalconnection, as at 26 with the link. 22which ,serveseas'a 1116231501 connecting said rotor Withthe lockgcnerally designated 24 (Figu1e3l. Integrally formed with the knuckle tail pocket 0t each coupler headand merging with the sidewalls .of the coupler. head.

are the top and bottom. wing-like bracketsfifi and 28 merging with the intermediate web..29

extending therebetween,. saidfibrackets alfording. gathering .means for the guard .arm noseof a.

mating coupler.

As clearly seen fromuthe side elevation of Fig ure 2, each guard arm '6 has. itsmaximum depth adjacent the nose which may taper therefrom and accommodates therein. top. and bottom resilient means 220, SDconveniently positionedfor abutment asat 32 and.34i with the vertical faces. formed on the extremities of the guideportions 2S and .23 between whichthe nose of the guard arm may pass. may have an arcuate configuration which seat as at 36 against the resilient member 38- (Figure 8), which maybe secured as at lllin said knuckle tailpocket. The opposite end of, the resilient memberSS may project through an opening 62 (Figure 4) in the knuckle tail buffing wall- 45 of the coupler. .heaclforv abutment asat lfl with the tail 46 of the adjacent. knuckle.

Asshown inFigure 3,.the resilient member 38.

projects through the opening as may be noted at 48, but in theshowing of Figure-3, the couplers arein pullingposition and the knuckles are therefore rotated. to tight abutmentagainst the lock 24 as may be noted at 50. In contrast, the bufiing condition illustrated in Figure 7 shows the member 38 compressed'by theknuckle at- M as alreadymentioned while a=slightaclearancebetween the lock-and knuckleis illustrated at. 52. Itmay'also Mynovel coupler comprises. a .cavity or. .recess, formed on. thecoupler head at the knuckle side thereof and.

Thesaid noseof the guard arrn.v

be noted that the opposite end of each resilient member 38 is under slight compression when the couplers ar in pulling position as illustrated in Figure 3, said slight compression being apparent from the bulge at 54 adjacent the abutment 36 where said resilient member bears against the nose 56 of the adjacent guard arm. Comparing the showing in'Figure '7 where buffing conditions are illustrated, it will be seen that the nose 56 of the guard arm has further compressed the resilient member 38 by the bearing at 36, compression as illustrated in Figure 7 being at maxi mum and being limited by the abutment at 58, 58 of the respectiveknuckles withthe contour face portions'of the adjacent coupler heads. In

approaching this condition of maximum buff, re-

sistance is'oifered not only by the resilient members 38, 38 abutting the noses of theguard arms at 36, 36 in combination with the bearing of the opposite ends of the resilient members 38, 38 against the tails of the adjacent knucklesat 44, 44, but also by the upper and lower resilient means 38, 38 which may bear against the adjacent wing portionas at 32, 34 (Figure 2) as already described. An important additional resistance is offered in the bufilng movement by the resilient means 68 which is housed in each knuckle and may be compressed by the knuckle face plate, 62 which bears against the contour face of the adjacent coupler head as will be readily apparent,

. said resilient knuckle being constructed and arranged substantially in accordance with that described in detail in Kayler Patent No, 2,098,207,

issued in the United States Patent Office Novem-* her 2, 1937.

It will thus be seen that the resilient means housed in the knuckles and those housed in the knuckle tail pockets, as well 'as those housed in the guard arms, offer resistance to the closing movement which occurs immediately prior to the metal abutment whichoccurs when the buffing movement has reached a maximum as illustrated in Figure 7 where the knuckles have rotated in degree to their maximum position where the knuckle tails seat as at 64 against the bufiing wall. With the parts in this position, it should be noted that the nosesof the mating knuckles are in full engagement with each other as indicated at 66 and the face of the knuckle is likewise in full engagement at 58 with the throat contour of the adjacent coupler head so that a substantially solid column of metal is afforded from one coupler head to the abutting knuckles into the other coupler head, and this solid metal contact through the two mating couplers is extended through the resilient knuckles thereof as may be seen froma consideration of the view of Figure where metal to metal abutting faces are afforded adjacent the extremities of each face plate as at 65, 65; 51, 61; and an intermediate abutting face at 59.

In this connection, it may be noted that while I have illustrated mynovel form of coupler with the resilient means 38, 38 in each guard arm, nevertheless, the said resilient means 38, 38 are not essential to the adequate functioning of, my novel form of coupler in which sufficient resilient resistance would be offered in the coupling operation as well as to restrain free slack therebetween if the said resilient means 38, 38 were omitted. When, however, my novel form of coupler is to be coupled with the present standard tight lock coupler, this resilient means is helpful in aligning the couplers, it being understood, of course, that the resilient means 38, 38 will be present at only one side of the mating couplers when my til novel form of coupler. is coupled with the present standard tight lock coupler which does not utilize this particular feature. The resilient means 38, 38 being present at one side of the coupler heads as they are approaching each other will tend to rotate them to the position where they are most open with respect toeach other so that the knuckles may properly engage and close.

A further comparison may be had between the full bufiing conditions illustrated in Figure 7 and the full pulling conditions shown in Figure 3. It will be seen that under pulling conditions each knuckle face plate 62 is still in abutment at 58 with th throat of the opposing coupler head, theknuckle spring 88 being placed under substantial compression in its released position so that, even under conditions of pull, the resilient means in the knuckles offers substantial resistance to longitudinal play between the mated coupler heads and greatly reduces the free slack which otherwise would be present, At the same time, the resilient members 38, 38 are also in some compression as noted at 54 and add to the stability ofthe coupling arrangement since each :resilient member 38 is restrained against movement in its confining pocket.

It should be observed that with the parts in full buffing position as illustrated in Figure '7, the resilient members 38, 38 are compressed at both ends and forces applied thereagainst by the abutting guard arm noses at 36, 36 are transmitted through the resilient members 38,38 to the knuckle tails at 44, 44 'so that each resilient member 38 affords a direct force path from the knuckle tail of one coupler to the guard arm of the mating coupler. This is an important feature of my invention. The tail form of the resilient member 38 is shown in Figures 8 and 9 wherein it may be noted that it issomewhat arcuate in plan with a convex outer surface 68 and a concave inner surface 18 complementary in form to the abutting walls of thepocket within which it may be housed, said member presenting. at the outer end thereof a substantially flat face I2 of relatively large area for abutment with the nose portion of the guard arm of a mating coupler and presenting adjacent its op-- posite end top and bottom shoulders 13, 13 which may abut the marginal edges of the buffflng wall 43 around the opening 42 (Figure 3). That portion of the member 38 projecting beyond the shoulders 13, 13 may be of somewhat reduced depth and present an arcuate face 14 having a configuration complementary in form to that of the knuckle tail 46 which ma seat thereagainst. After assembly, each resilient member 38 may beheld in position by a rivet at 48 and avertical opening 18 is afforded therefor. It should be noted that all edges of the member 38 are formed with smooth radii as at 16. I6 so that when the member is subjected to compression there will be no tendency for the edges to wear rough or to break down due to concentration of forces transmitted therethrough.

In the sectional view of Figure 4 taken transv rsely through the coupler in the plane shown inFigure 3, there are illustrated, in addition to features already referred to, certain details not heretofore mentioned. The view of Figure 4 shows the mannerin which the lock 24 may rideupon the knuckle as at 88and 82 and in this view also isshown the knuckle thrower 84 which is the means of rotating the knuckle itself. In this view is also shown the manner inwhich the rotary lock lifter I8 is connected to the lower opposite or :eye': endriof fisaidrlink to the .lifter :lug 86 adj acent ithe alowerrend ofrtheylocki 245- Figure 4 .also' well illustratessthe manner :in .which the shoulders.13,:131eofthe resilientzmember 38 abut the-knuckle tail.zbufiingiwall 'at 88,433.. This view likewise shows a front elevation of the guard arm resilient -means "30swhich maya-be' describedas a generally. rectangular' body; of resilient material with. smooth. radii-at? the corners: thereof andwhich may be secured imposition by-the threaded bolt 90 (Figure-3) fixedrrtowan'adjacent transverse-web-in the guard-arm: Inthisview is also shown themanner. in--.which'the lock 24 bears against the' vertical :longitudinal- .wall 92 of the coupler headas -seen at 94*, theubearing surface thereof affording: large-v seating. area for said lock.

The: detail of the lock -.isshown in Figures 10 to lBincIusiVe: Thegeneraloutlines of the lock aresimilarto those-of the presentstanclard tight lock-coupler including the.-relatively large upper portion 96 .whichimay be designated the head of the -lock, the-guard arm side-of which maybe afforded a relatively-large =flat bearing area 98 for the purpose alreadytmentioned,andthe oppositeface of the lock 'head may beformed with an offset at I defining ashoulder which may seatuponthe knuckle tail as already described.

The fulcrum I02-may project from the front faceofthe'lock head, said fulcrum affording means about which thelock-may pivot against a shoulder provided on thecoupler headfor that pur pose. Also on .theknuckle side-of-the lock head is affordedsa relatively largebearing area I04 approximately parallel with 1 the before-mentioned face 98 -so that when-theknuckleis in pulling position-the'tail thereof may bear against thearea I04; the lock? thus being confined between thewall=92 of the coupler head and the knuckle tail,- saidluck thus serving as means of-preventing further rotation of =the knuckle in the :usual manner. The leg of the lock designated I05.=-.projecting downwardly from the head portion has thev intermediate" section shown at I06 in Figure 15, saidv leg portionbeing somewhat diagonally-arranged with respect to the head of the lock. Below the-diagonalsection I06 the lock hasthe configurationwhich-may be seen from. a comparisonof the views of Figures 10, 12, 13 and-l6, the lock leghaving adjacent the extremity thereof on the. guard arm: side the lifterlug 8B afford-ing;means of-connection to the-lifter link 22,- and above said lug and to the rear thereof may'be formed the shoulder II 0 onwhich the lock may rest when in lockset positionr. Below andforwardly-of'the lifter lug 86 may be formed. theanticreep lug I I2 designed to prevent the accidental elevationzof saidlook when the parts are in locked position. The distinctive featureof my-lock as compared with that ofthe-standard tight lockcoupler liesin the'fact thatthe-knuckle-tail bearing area I04 at one sideof-the-luggand the bearing face 98 at the opposite SidGZthEI'GOf. are substantially parallel witlreach other so that when the knuckle isin pulling position there is nowedging action which otherwise-might tend to urgethe lock out of its normal locked position.

In Figures 17 and 18; I have shown my novel form of tight lock coupler connected to the present standard tight lock "coupler, Figure 17 showing the couplers-in pulling-position, and Figure 18 illustrating thern in buff; Itmay be noted that when these'two .types'iof couplers are coupled tojaw= end of the :link'a22-zandz'athe -iconnection' of the; gether and. in pullingp sition ithe=nosei l I 4 of th guard "arm 'I I6 of the standard coupler generally designated I I! may-abut as at' I I8 the resilient member 38 0f my novel form' of coupler, said resilient memberibeing under some compression as a result of said'engagement- Also, the knuckle 8' being rotated to'its'fully open position bears as at 50'against the vertical knuckle locking face'of the lock 24, the opposite face of which may seat as at against the vertical Wall 92 as already described. The face plate. 62 of the knuckle of my novel form of coupler may bear as at I20 against the throat contour'of the standard tight lock coupler: I I1. Also, each resilient member 30 in the guardarm 6 of'the-coupler head 2 may abut asat I22 the adjacent'bracket I24 on thehollow bracket I26 of thecoupler II'I, said hollow bracket serving to house the nose portion 56 of the guard arm 6. In this-viewthe knuckle I28 of the coupler'll'l pivoted as at I30 may have nose engagement'as at.l3l with the knckle 8,'and the tail'of the knuckle I28 may have metal to metal bearing as at |32 against the sloping wedge face of the lock I36,' the opposite face of the lock being seated as at I38 'against'the'vertical wall= I40'of the coupler head-only a fragmentary portion'of'said wall being shown. The opposite side of the knuckle tail maybe wedged as at I33 against the buffing wall I34 of thecoupler head if the wedge lock I36 has descended to the lowermost position permitted by'the wear that may have occurred between the engaging surfaces on the buffing wall I34,- the knuckle I28, the lock I36, and the wall I40. If for any reason the lock may have wedged upwardly slightly, some clearance will occur at I33. With the parts in pulling position, it will be seen that there is a slight space between the knuckle I28'-and the throat contour of the coupler head 2 as indicated at M2, the clearance therebetween being slight and control of the slack resulting therefrom being afforded by the resilient means in' the knuckle, by the compression of the resilient member 38, and of the resilient means 30, 30;-

In the view of Figure 18 my novel coupler and the standard tight'lock coupler-are shown coupled and in buffing position. Under these conditions, the resilient members 38 and 30, 30'are considerably further compressed and the knuckle face plate 62 may be forced into metal to metal engagement with the knuckle.8, the spring 60 like the resilient means .30 and 38 being compressedv approximately to the'maximumand all of said springs cooperatingv to restrict the amount of metal to metal contact and reduce the resultant noise. The knuckleface plate in its fully. compressed position bears as at I20 against the throat of the coupler H1, and. the heel of 'the knuckle 8 may also bear as at l43'against the throat contour of the coupler III. Also .thenose contours of the knuckles 8 and I28 .may abut asrat I44, while the face of the'knuckle vI'28 may seat as at I46 in the throat contourof the coupler head 2.

Under these conditions of buliwthe 'tail of the knuckle 8 has seated asat 64 against the buifing wall 43and has compressedzthe inner end of the resilient member 38l-into a position flush with the inner face of the wall. 43, the knuckle tail bearing against the-member 38-as at 44 so that the resilient member 38 affords a direct force path between the nose II4 of the guard arm II 6--of the coupler II! andthe tail of the knuckle 8 of the mating coupler 2; With the parts of the re- 'spective couplers in buflingposition, the tail of I the'wedgev face I32 of the wedge lock I36 and,

at the same time, bear against the bufiing wall I34 as at I33 if the Wedge lock I36 is functioning properly.

In Figure 19 is shown in full lines the contour of my novel coupler and superposed thereon is shown in phantom lines the contour of the present A. A. R. standard tight lock coupler. 'It may be noted that the two contours areidentical from the nose of the guard arm 6 into the throat or" the coupler head and around the throat to a point adjacent the pivot pin of the knuckle as is indicated at I48 from which pointon, the knuckle contour of the A. A. R. tight lock coupler as indicated at I50 is somewhat tighter or closer to the throat of the coupler head than the nose of my novel coupler as indicated at I52, the two knuckle contours crossing each other at a point indicated at I54 and the contour of my novel coupler being modified by the contour of the projecting face plate 62 which normally projects therefrom. From the point I54 around the face of the knuckle, the contour of the standard tight lock coupler is in a somewhat more closed position as compared with the contour of my novel coupler, the two again coinciding at the point designated I56 rearwardly of the heel of the knuckle and approximately opposite the point I48, already mentioned, on the other side of the pivot opening, the center of which may be designated I58. Continuing from the point I56 the two contours again coincide except at the ex-" tremities of the brackets formed on the coupler head at the knuckle side thereof wherein it may be noted that said bracket projects slightly farther on the standard tight lock contour as indicated at I60. It will thus be seen that the difference in the two contours is substantially that indicated by the fact thatin my novel arrangement the knuckle may open slightly as compared with the knuckle of the standard tight lock coupler, thus permitting more practical manufacturing tolerances, and at the same time, facilitating ease of coupling and uncoupling and also eliminating the hazard of the wedge lock. I

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

lclaim:

1. In a coupling mating couplers each comprising a pivoted knuckle, a laterally spaced guard arm, a lock presenting substantially vertical walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles being capable of limited rotation under locked conditions, and a plurality of resilient means housed in said couplers said resilient means comprising vertically spaced resilient members mounted on each guard arm for abutment with means on the opposite coupler, bufling means resiliently mounted in each knuckle, and

a block of resilient material compressible between the knuckle tail of each coupler and the guard arm of the other coupler.

2. In a coupling, mating couplers each comprising a pivoted knuckle, a laterally spaced guard arm, and a lock presenting substantially vertical walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles being capable of limited rotation under locked conditions, and resilient means housed in said couplers said resilient means comprising a resilient member affording a direct force path between the knuckle tail of one coupler and the guard arm of the other coupler.

3. In a coupling, mating couplers each comprising a pivoted knuckle, a laterally spaced guard arm having a nose, a lock presenting substantially vertical walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles being capable of limited rotation under locked conditions, and a plurality of resilient means housed in said couplers said resilient means comprising vertically spaced resilient members mounted respectively on each guard arm above and below its nose for abutment with means on the opposite coupler, and a bufiing element resiliently mounted in each knuckle.

4. In a coupling, mating couplers each .comprising a pivoted knockle, a laterally spaced guard arm, and a lock presenting substantially vertical walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles being capable of limited rotation under locked conditions, and a plurality of resilient means housed in said couplers, said resilient means comprising a plurality of resilient members in each coupler compressible between the knuckle thereof and the throat and guard arm respectively of the adjacent coupler.

5. In a coupling, mating couplers each comprising a pivoted knuckle, a laterally spaced guard arm having a nose, and a lock presenting substantially vertical walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles being capable of limitedrotation under locked conditions, and a pluralityof resilient means housed in said couplers said resilient means comprising vertically spaced resilient members mounted respectively above and below each guard arm nose knuckle thereof and longitudinally spaced portions of the adjacent coupler.

7. In a coupling, mating couplers each comprising a pivoted knuckle, a laterally spaced guard arm, and a lock presenting walls for compression between said knuckle and an opposing wall on the supporting coupler, said knuckles beresilient member mounted in the first-mentioned coupler adjacent the tail of said knuckle for abutment therewith, said resilient member projecting from the first-mentioned; coupler for abutment with the guard arm of said mating coupler to afford a direct force path between posite coupler.

10. In a coupling, mated couplers having guard arms and pivoted knuckles laterally spaced therefrom, locking means for said knuckles, and resilient means housed in said couplers adjacent the tails of said knuckles, each of said resilient means affording a direct force path between the tail of a knuckle and the nose of the guard arm of the mating coupler.

11. In a coupling, mated couplers each having a guard arm and a laterally spaced pivoted knuckle, locking means for said knuckles, and resilient means housed in said couplers adjacent th tails of said knuckles, each of said resilient means affording a direct force path between the knuckle tail of one coupler and theguard arm of the other coupler.

12. In an automatic coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a guard arm having a nose laterally spaced from said knuckle, vertically spaced resilient means mounted in said arm above and below said nose for abutment with a mating coupler, and a resilient member mounted in said first-mentioned coupler adjacent the tail of said knuckle for abutment therewith, said resilient member proiecting from the first-mentioned coupler for abutment with the guard arm of said mating coupler.

13. In an automatic coupler, a pivoted knuckle, a guard arm having a nose laterallyspaced from said knuckle, vertically spaced resilient means mounted in said guard arm. above and below said nose and having abutment with a portion of a mating coupler, a resilient member mounted in said coupler adjacent the tailof said knuckle for abutment therewith, and means resiliently mounted in said knuckle for abutment with the throat of a mating coupler.

14. In a coupling, couplers each having a guard arm and a laterally spaced pivoted knuckle, locking means for said knuckles, and resilient means mounted in at least one of said couplers and afiording a direct force path between the knuckle thereof and the guard arm of the mating coupler.

15. In a coupling, couplers having guard arms and pivoted knuckles laterally spaced from said arms, locking means for said knuckles, and resilient means in said couplers, each of said resilient means affording a direct force path be tween the knuckle tail of one coupler and the guard arm of the other coupler.

16. In a coupling, mated couplers'each comprising a pivoted knuckle and a uard arm laterally spaced therefrom, locking means for said knuckles, and resilient means housed in each ,coupler adjacent the tail of said knuckle and compressibleqbetween av portion..-of said-knuckle I and; the guardarm-of themating. coupler.

,all timesby a portion of a mating couplensaid resilient means being further compressible, under certain operating conditions by said knuckle tail portion.

19. In a;coupler, .a coupler head, a knuckle pivotedv therein, locking means for said knuckle, and

. a plurality of resilient means housed in said coupler, said resilient-means comprising a, plurality of resilient 1 members compressible between. said knuckle, andthe throatzandguardwarm respectively of a' mating coupler.

.20. Ina, coupler, a coupler head, a knucklepivoted :therein, :locking means 1 for said knuckle,

.and a plurality of :resilientzmeans,housed insaid coupler and compressible respectively :between said knuckle and: longitudinally spaced portions of a mating coupler.

.21. In a coupler, a coupler. head, a knuckle pivoted therein and having. atailportion, and cushioning. means compressible between said tail. portion anda-portion of amating coupler.

22. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle, and. cushioning means mounted in-said coupler. adjacent .thetail of said knuckle forabutment therewith,

said coupler having a wallawith rigidv abutment means for engagement with said .tail under maximum hurling conditions to. prevent: overcompression of said cushioning means and to positively limit rotation of said knuckle under saidconditions, .andsaid cushioning: means extending outwardly' through an opening in said vvall for engagement with an associated mating coupler.

2 3. In a coupler, a coupler head, a knuckle pivotedtherein, said -knuckle-comprising-a tail portion, said head comprising a knuckle tail buffing wall adjacent sai'dtail-portioman opening through said wall, and cushioning means projecting through said opening for engagement with said'tail portion under certain-operating-condi- -tions, said-cushioning means being in the-form of-an arcuate-resilient pad extending outwardly through said opening forengagement with a mating coupler.

24. In a coupler, a coupler head, a knuckle pivoted therein, said knuckle comprising a ,tail

portion, said head comprising -a knuckle tail portion, said head comprising a guard arm .pocket anda knuckle ,tail-bufiing wall adjacent said tail portion, .an ,opening through said wall,

, and cushioning means in said ,pocket and projecting through ,said opening :for engagement with said-tail portion.

,26. ,In ,a coupler, acoupler head with a-cavity,

a knuckle pivoted therein and having a tail portion, and cushioning means within said head and projecting outwardly of said cavity for engagement with a mating coupler, said cushioning means being normally spaced from said portion during locked position of the knuckle and said cushioning means being engageable with said portion under bufiing conditions only.

27. In a 00111318133. coupler head, a knuckle pivoted thereinand having a,tail portion, and cushioning means within said head and projecting outwardly through a wall of said head for engagement with a mating coupler, said cushioning means being normally spaced from said portion during locked position of the knuckle and said cushioning means being engageable with said portion under bufiing conditions only, said head being formed with knuckle tail bufling means for engagement with said tail portion to limit compression of said cushioning means and to positively limit rotation of said knuckle during maximum buffing conditions.

28. In a coupler, a coupler head comprising a guard arm having a guard arm nose, and spaced cushioning means mounted on said arm above and below said nose respectively for cooperation with a mating coupler.

29. In a coupling, mated couplers each having a knuckle pivoted therein and comprising resilient bufling means bearing against the other coupler, said knuckle having a tail portion, and cushioning means within each head for cooperation under buffing conditions only with the associated tail portion, said buffing means being operable to maintain said tail portion out of engagement with said cushioning means under normal conditions.

30. In a coupler, a pivoted knuckle with a tail portion, and cushioning means formed and arranged to ailord a direct force path between said portion and a mating coupler.

EDMUND P. KINNE. 

